Tag Archives: Italian

www.piccolacucinagroup.com

One of our favorite restaurant officially opened their 4th location in New York City! Piccola Cucina, in the Upper East Side, should definitely be on your to-go list!

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We’ve been to Piccola Cucina a couple of times and we never hesitate to go back again and again, and again!

Celebrities like the mega influencer Chiara Ferragni and her husband Fedez, and other big names like Owen Wilson, Adam Devine, Katie Holmes, Cuba Gooding Jr, Duran Duran and so many others also love the spot! You might even bump into one of them!

Their 4th location was scheduled to open early March and now they were finally able to celebrate their grand opening….and obviously they did not disappoint!

As soon as we arrived, the outdoor seating immediately called our attention. Every detail and the careful treatment with all the details made the area super cozy and inviting.

Having recently opened, we were happy to see they were already pretty busy with old (and many new) clients having fun and respecting all safety protocols.

Well, we were excited to try their Upper East Side menu and this time, different from the previous post we wrote about them, we left space for their delicious desserts!

This is what we had:

Antipasti: Octopus Caprese with burrata cheese , tomato confit and basil
Main Dish #1: Pasta – Busiati with salmon and artichokes
Main Dish #2: Pasta – Spaghetti with seafood (mussles, shrimp and calamaris)
Dessert: Tiramisu
Dessert: Semifreddo Mandorla – an ice cream-like option!

We paired the meals with red wine and an Espresso Martini – to give it a twist! And, if you enjoy Espresso Martinis, they really know how to make this cocktail to perfection!

Chef Philip Guardione truly never disappoints and is always adding amazing new creations to the menu or the daily specials, so you can be sure to be surprised – regardless of which location you decide to go to!

And lastly, of course the staff and the entire team was extremely knowledgeable with all the dishes, super polite and friendly and most of all, very welcoming…making our night a perfect dinner in New York City! Bravissimo!

We can wait for our next time!

Location: 106 East 60th Street

Hours:
Sunday-Thursday: 11:30am – 11pm
Friday and Saturday: 11:30am – 12am

Photo Credits: ©Behind the Scenes NYC

Tramonti Fifth Ave: An Authentic Italian Restaurant in NYC

February 27, 2020

If you enjoy Italian cuisine, then you must visit Tramonti Fifth Ave, a family-friendly authentic Italian restaurant. Not only do they have century old secret recipes, but they are the only ones in NYC to have a specific Tramonti wine!

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Tramonti Fifth Ave is one of the newest additions to NYC’s vibrant restaurant scene! This family-friendly authentic Italian restaurant, located in the heart of the NoMad neighborhood, will take you on a journey to Tramonti, a small town in Italy.

To be more exact, Tramonti is a tiny town in the beautiful Amalfi Coast (southern Italy). They are mostly known for their vineyards, lemon orchards and chestnut woodlands. Tramonti’s current population is only a little over 4,100 people.

When we arrived at Tramonti Fifth Ave, we were greeted by a very friendly staff that led us to our table. We sat at the back area, near the wood-fired pizza oven, where we immediately noticed that Chef Giovanni Vittorio Tagliafierro was at full speed! Chef Leo Mele is the other, also world-renowned chef, part of Tramonti!

Chef Giovanni, born in Tramonti, was recently awarded by the Italian American Chamber of Commerce the Ospitalità Italiana Award.

This annual award is a seal of quality assurance for the authentic Italian restaurants around the world.

“Italian cuisine is the result of a centuries-old historical process of Italian society, always leading to significant moments of human civilization. For an innate inclination to the attention of the Italians to human relationships and the quality of life, the culture of the table has become in the course of time the symbol of hospitality and welcome, the food has taken on a value like art and music.

For these reasons, Italian food should be considered a contribution to the heritage of humanity and should be defended and protected from adulteration and falsification to preserve its history, culture, quality, and authenticity.” ~ Welcome-Italia.co.uk

As mentioned above, Tramonti is known for its fine vineyards and we had the pleasant surprise to actually try an authentic wine, the Giuseppe Apicella Costa d’Amalfi Tramonti. Such a delicious red wine!

As starters, we tried:

Bruschetta with fresh tomatoes
Bruschetta with fresh tomatoes and burrata
And, the Bruschetta with fresh tomatoes and prosciutto
Polpette Di Vitella – veal meatballs in tomato sauce
Parmigiana Di Melanzane – Parmigiana-style pan fried eggplant with tomato sauce and mozzarella

All really fresh and extremely tasty, but we were mostly surprised with the perfection of the Parmigiana Di Melanzane. This is definitely a must-have!

Pizza making is one of Chef Giovanni’s expertise. Their recipe has been in his family for over a century, so we obviously had to try it!

The pizza we decided on was a classic Caprese – Fiammante San Marzano DOP tomato sauce, buffalo mozzarella DOP, arugula, cherry tomatoes and EVOO (extra virgin olive oil).

We asked what DOP meant. It’s “Denominazione d’Origine Protetta” (Protected Designation of Origin) – a certification guaranteeing the origin of the products and that “it has been produced, processed, and packaged in a specific geographical zone and according to tradition” (Source: DeliveryItaliano.com)

“We use special ingredients and classic recipes to create delicious pizza, spaghetti, salad, and more.”

It was delicious and the crust was as crunchy as a pizza crust should be!

Last, but definitely not least, dessert! We tried their cannoli, but we were really looking forward to their famous Chocolate Eggplant.

The recipe dates back over 400 years. It has passed through all generations of Chef Giovanni’s family – mother, grandmother, great grandmother. The process takes literally over 24 hours to prepare.

They fry the eggplant to perfection, twice, then it sits for around 6 hours. The chocolate sauce is delicious and, as every genius dish, there’s a secret ingredient. In this case, the Chef mentioned it’s an Italian liqueur, with 13 herbs (he did not mention details), made by local Monks!

When the eggplant is ready, they dip it into the chocolate sauce, sprinkle with dark chocolate and place into the oven for another 2 minutes. But, it’s still not over. Finally, they place it inside a refrigerator for another 24 hours! After this, the dessert finally ready to be savored! Result: Utter perfection!

You’ll also find other options on the menu like pastas and a variety of seafoods from lobster, crab and shrimp, to fresh oysters.

They can also accommodate dietary restrictions and offers vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free dishes as well!

We can’t wait to go back for more!

Oh, and while you’re in the neighborhood, you might want to explore it a bit. So, go for a drink at Patent Pending, one of our favorite speakeasy bars! If you want to stay in the area while in NYC, take a look at the HGU New York Hotel.

Hours:
Monday – Thursday: 11:30am – 12am
Friday & Saturday: 11:30am – 12:30am
Sunday: 11:30am – 11pm

Location: 2 West 28th Street

www.tramontififthave.com

Photo Credits: ©Behind the Scenes NYC

Fê is our Founder & CEO! She’s Brazilian (Yup! Not a New Yorker!), but her indescribable passion and curiosity for NY makes her a New Yorker by heart. Fê worked in companies like Kimberly Clark, Quintessentially, Vogue Brazil and Iguatemi Group, and after 12 years of working for these fantastic companies, she decided to go solo and move to NYC!
She lives in Brooklyn since April of ’15 and has been tirelessly working on BTSNYC, working with huge companies on corporate projects, practicing her Arhatic Yoga meditations, finding time for gym and friends! Phiuf!

Piccola Cucina: A Charming Italian Restaurant in NYC

February 7, 2020

www.piccolacucinagroup.com

The smaller, the better! That’s how we like our restaurants to be! Piccola Cucina Enoteca is a charming Italian restaurant with a few locations around New York.

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I remember the very first time I went to Piccola Cucina on Prince Street. The place was not new – it was founded back in 2008 – but I only had a chance to visit them on September 2014.

Behind the Scenes NYC was just starting its journey uncovering the local New York scene, I had just hired my immigration lawyers to kick off my Visa process, so I wanted to start our explorations in grand style!

As soon as you walk in Piccola Cucina, you’ll be surprised on how tiny the place is.

There are maybe only around 10 tables, all pretty packed up together. But, no one really seems to mind, nor pay attention to what’s happening with their neighbor.

If you’re a visual person like me, the good thing is that you can peek around to see what the dishes look like.

I went there with a friend that I’ve known since we were 3-4 years old, that studied with me back in school and eventually in college. He’d been living in NYC for quite some time, working for a renowned bank, and knew about all my life changing plans of moving to New York City.

Since then, everything ended up well: I moved to New York and properly started my business. There is just so much to see in this city that, even though I do go to places I love multiple times, I always tend to look for new places to explore. It’s always good for new content for you guys!

That said, I hadn’t found a good opportunity to go back, until a few days ago with 2 good friends that also live here and have never been there.

We did a reservation for Sunday, at 2pm. The place is so tiny that if you don’t have a reservation, you’ll probably have to wait a while for a table.

I woke up a little later than normal, since Sundays are my lazy days. I had a light breakfast to actually arrive hungry at Piccola Cucina. I wanted to know how Chef Philip Guardione, a true Sicilian raised, would surprise me this time!

We all ordered different dishes:

To share: Bruschetta ai Pomodorini e Basilico – Classic Cherry Tomato and Basil Bruschetta
Cavatelli ai Funghi Porcini – Cavatelli with Porcini Mushrooms
Lasagna al Ragu – Lasagna with Meat Ragu, Tomato and Bechamel Sauce
Pasta alla Norma – Eggplant Rolls Stuffed with Tomatoes Spaghetti and Ricotta Cheese
Red Wines by the glass: Divus Ciavolic Montepulciano d’Abruzzo and Cembra Pinot Noir

All the dishes are super well served and came in beautiful pans that was pretty unique! I actually ordered the rest of mine to go. I literally was able to eat only half!

“I only came to New York for a visit, but the energy and vitality of the people bewitched me. Today the Big Apple has become my city, where this unexpected adventure all started, and my goal is to bring the joy and flavor of my country here”. ~ Chef Philip Guardione

We decided not to order dessert, but we did see the Cannoli with Ricotta Cheese and the Tiramisú at the neighbor tables. They looked delicious and the people eating them, seemed very happy with their order! Ha!

So, after some coffee, it was time to go! We had a fantastic time! The staff was ultra-friendly and solicitous, music was pleasant, and guests came from all over the globe. We could listen to them speaking multiple different languages.

Piccola Cucina is a perfect place for a brunch with friends. It’s also a fantastic idea to surprise your date on a trendy, intimate New York spot! But, not really fun for small kids though…

If you’re in SoHo, you can just take more time to explore.

So, go grab a drink at a speakeasy bar called The Ship, have fun at the famous interactive exhibit called Color Factory, or go for dessert and coffee at Sweets by Chloe. I love their Red Velvet cupcake – it’s vegan, but if I hadn’t told you, you’d never notice!

Hours: Please check details for each location on website.

Locations:
Enoteca – 184 Prince Street
Sicilian Osteria – 196 Spring Street
Estiatorio – 75 Thompson Street
Upper East Side – 106 East 60th Street

Photo Credits: ©Behind the Scenes NYC and Courtesy of Piccola Cucina

Pescatore Restaurant: Italian Memories Made in New York

April 23, 2019

www.pescatorerestaurant.com

Pescatore Restaurant is an Italian eatery and wine bar that will make your tastebuds as happy as they can get, so be sure to add it to your dining options!

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Pescatore is a beautiful and elegant Italian restaurant and wine bar located on 2nd Avenue, in Manhattan. It’s always a good idea, for lunch or dinner.

I have been there many times in the evening and once in the afternoon. The menu is pretty similar. The differences are basically the price – a little more expensive for dinner and on the pre-fixe menu they offer for lunch. But, you will find high quality no matter the time. They have great specials for dinner, as well.

Let’s get started with the flatbread – always!!! It’s amazing! But they have lots of good options for appetizers such as bruschettas made with fig compote, ricotta, pine nuts and pomegranate glaze, and meatballs, called Polpette. So, delicious, and it’s served with garlic bread.

Now let’s talk about about the pastas. I do love all the options.

They have a large selection of Spaghetti, Pappardelle, Ravioli, Fettuccine… accompanied by different, rich sauces. For me, the Spaghetti Carbonara is the best. Now, for lunch they serve the regular dish, but for dinner they make it their signature dish, mixing the pasta with all ingredients in a parmesan wheel. Rise your hand if you love cheese like me! Oh, they also have gluten-free and whole wheat pasta.

The main course is a difficult choice if it’s your first time eating there. Under the Secondi part on the menu you’ll find different meat options like chicken, beef, fish and if you like seafood the Scampi di Gamberi is a winner. The shrimps served with saffron risotto and green beans. Mouth watering, right?

Italian desserts are always welcome. The Chocolate Pizza served with Nutella, hazelnuts, bananas and salted caramel gelato, is one of the desserts you must try. If you prefer, you can order a Tartufo or maybe a Gelato…it’s up to you. Finally, pair any of your choices with a wine: perfection!

Pescatore unites people with different styles and from countless parts of the globe. You will see many UN workers there, friends catching up, couples during date nights…it’s definitely a place to make happy memories.

We want to hear about the memories you’ve made at Pescatore so please tag us and share your moments with us!

If you’re celebrating a special occasion and need helping organizing a bigger dinner, or for any corporate requests, contact our experts.

Hours:
Daily: 12pm – 11pm
Happy Hour: 12pm – 7pm

Location: 955 2nd Avenue

Text by our Contributor: Rafaela Azevedo
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Pescatore

The Must-Try Italian Restaurants In NYC

November 26, 2018

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In this YouTube episode, we show you which are the must-try Italian restaurants in NYC! So, lets do it how Italians say: “Mangia Che Te Fa Bene!”

“Mangia Che Te Fa Bene!” or… “Eat, that it’s good for you!”…as Italian love to say before starting a delicious meal at Italian Restaurants in NYC and around the globe!

Welcome to our last food episode of the Season! I invited, of course, my dear friend Jared Zuckerman, one of NYC’s top food and travel influencers that tirelessly explored with me the local NYC food scene! We had a fantastic time uncovering some of the top food spots in town, like the best desserts, cocktail spots and vegan restaurants for meat eaters!

So, to finish in grand style and because of our Italian roots, we selected 3 Italian spots to share with you!

To start, we headed towards one of Joe’s Pizza spots, where his pizza is loved not only by all locals, but also countless celebrities. Then, we went to Gnoccheria by Luzzo’s – the 1^st spot serving only gnocchis . Last, but certainly not least, the relatively new Scriptum Brooklyn, serving food by passionate Italians in a pretty cool place!

And, before we start showing you all these Italian gems, be sure to subscribe to our channel, like the video and help spread the love for our beautiful New York City!

Joe’s Pizza

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Joe’s Pizza is one of the most famous pizza spots in town, loved by locals and countless celebrities. The business was born in the Greenwich Village in 1975, and today has 4 locations, so it’s easy to find one close to you…

Today Joe is 75 years old and is still running the business! It’s certainly a place with no b*llshit, plus it’s not fancy, not uptight…just right, for the perfect slice of pizza.

Do you know which celebrities you can bump into?

Lucy Liu, Bradley Cooper, Lenny Kravitz, Leo DiCaprio, Selena Gomez, Kevin Bacon, Steven Tyler, Trey Burke basketball player from the NY Knicks, and even the Kardashians love it!

This time, I ordered a slice of the spinach and ricotta pizza, while Jared got a traditional pepperoni slice!

So, let’s go to our next spot: Gnoccheria by Luzzo’s!

Hours: Check website for different hours.

Locations:
7 Carmine Street, Greenwich Village (The original spot!)
150 East 14^th Street, Midtown
1435 Broadway, Midtown
216 Bedford Avenue, Williamsburg, Brooklyn

http://www.joespizzanyc.com

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Gnoccheria by Luzzo’s is the 1st gnocchi only spot in the city and is relatively new too!

The Luzzo family is known for being in the restaurant business for years and years and having truly authentic Italian food!

So, what to expect? Delicious, home made gnocchis perfect to pair with your favorite wine!

“Having already mastered the fine art of the perfect pizza dough the next logical step for Executive Chef Michele Iuliano was to master the art of perfect gnocchi. Every style of gnocchi served at Gnoccheria is inspired by Chef Michele’s upbringing and home cooking, and is freshly made by hand every day. From the spinach gnocchi to the amazing stuffed gnocchi all of the dishes are prepared with tremendous variety, taste, and love.”

I had their signature dish: Tris Signature Dish (for 2), made with the classic potato gnocchi and 3 different sauces – pesto genovese, quattro formaggi and sorentina. No joke, I think this one of the best gnocchis in my life. Super light, incredibly fresh, the 3 sauces are extremely tasty and well balanced!

Jared had a green ravioli pasta with tomato sauce, spinach, filled with fresh burrata! He loved it too and said that the burrata, that usually is a bit on the saltier side, was just perfect. In addition, the spinach was amazing!

And of course, we paired it with a red wine. Their wine list is truly impressive and you can see all their tables decorating the restaurant’s walls. Very unique cellar!

I can’t wait to go back there! Really! It’s truly one of my favorite Italian Restaurants in NYC!

Hours:
Monday – Friday: 5pm – 11pm
Saturday & Sunday: 12pm – 11pm

Location: 234 East 4^th Street

http://www.gnoccherianyc.com

Scriptum Brooklyn

UNFORTUNATELY THIS AMAZING PLACE CLOSED DOWN JUST A FEW DAYS AGO!

Just a few days before posting our video, we were told that the restaurant unfortunately had permanently closed down on November 17^th.

Their food was truly amazing, the decoration of the place was fantastic and super cozy, the service and staff were all very nice and attentive…

We wish the entire team the best and that they hopefully decide to reopen at another location to make all our Italian cravings go away!

And, it’s a wrap! We hope you really enjoyed these fantastic places. And if you did, like our video and subscribe to our channel!

I’m sure you’ll love being part of our behind the scenes NYC, world!

If you enjoyed these Italian restaurants in NYC, take a look at our Dining selection for more fantastic restaurants like Palma in the West Village and Lilia Ristorante in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Videography: Black3 Agency
Photography: Courtesy of venues
Beauty: Leila Soldeira
Styling: Camilla Adão
*Last Update on Feb/2020.*

This Is How New Yorkers Like To Eat Out!

November 12, 2018

www.opentable.com/OliveTreeCafe

Do you know how New Yorkers like to eat out? We will show you how Olive Tree Cafe & La Lanterna di Vittorio together, make the perfect night out! This incredible duo will make you travel to Middle Eastern to Italy in a blink of an eye.

That NY is a really diverse city, we all know. But do you know how some native New Yorkers like to eat? I mean, how would be a perfect dinner for them? I’m sure the opinions are divided. But, according to a group of friends I’ve got, all of them “native New Yorkers”, have an interesting and uncommon way of having a night out.

Ok, so the cool thing here is: having dinner at one restaurant and dessert at another. This is a tradition many New Yorkers keep since their college years. It seems curious, doesn’t it? And let me tell you, after being introduced to this New Yorker style meal, I can say it’s definitely fun and quite adventurous.

I’ll describe below my first experience trying out the combo:

It was a winter evening when my group of friends decided we’d have dinner at Olive Tree Cafe and dessert at La Lanterna Di Vittorio, both on MacDougal Street, located in the West Village. I didn’t know any of these restaurants at that time, so I was super excited about what that night would look like.

First stop: Olive Tree Cafe – Middle Eastern

When we got into the restaurant I was immediately impressed by the tables.

They were like chalkboards. Yeah, we could draw, write or doodle on the table, while we were eating. I loved it!

As soon as we were seated I grabbed a chalk and started writing some silly, fun things to get entertained.

The place was cute, decorated with some lamps across the saloon, brick walls and some frames.

The menu offered Middle Eastern salads and main dishes, in addition to hamburgers and sides. As I’m really into Middle Eastern food I tried to order the best I could.

To start, we split a falafel dish. I’m a huge fan of falafel and thought it was great!

For the main course I had chicken kebob that was served with rice or mashed potato – I picked rice – and a salad made with cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers and a few spices. It was really rich!

My friends ordered different dishes, all of them pretty tasty. But, one of them got my attention. It was a combination of falafels, baba ganoush, kefta kebob and a salad.

So, I couldn’t hold myself back from asking my friend to try a little bit of his dish, and what can I say, fantastic!

After eating and playing a lot with the chalk, we were ready to head for dessert.

Note: Olive Tree Cafe is part of the Comedy Cellar, a notorious comedy club located right below it.

Hours:
Friday – Saturday: 11am – 4am
Sunday – Thursday: 11am – 2:30am

Location: 117 MacDougal Street

Second stop: La Lanterna di Vittorio – Italian

First of all, the ambience of the place was extremely cozy. The dimmed lights made me feel as my simple dessert hunt with friends, was a real special occasion.

I highly recommend for a date, although it was not my case. I was just having fun with my friends.

It was winter so the fireplace was lit. My friend asked for a table in the back, which made me question: in the back??

Oh! What I didn’t know was they have a charming winter garden tucked away in their back area!

The space is decorated with some colorful and fun details like the lamps in a Greekish-Italian style.

Surely, a lovely place to spend the rest of a great night with friends.

Time to order, and they had a great variety of desserts or dolci, like you’ll see written on their menu.

From American to Italian and other European cakes and sweets, I felt like Alice in “Dessertland”.

They also displayed the desserts close to the entrance so I decided to get up and chose mine, with my eyes. I chose a delicious chocolate mud cake and it was actually my first time having one. So delicious!

My friends had cannolis, fruit pie and the gelati.

The result: Every single one of us left extremely happy and satisfied! It was truly the perfect duo, specially considering they are located on the same street, just steps from each other.

Note: La Lanterna has a room downstair with live music, so do ask about it!

Hours:
Friday & Saturday: 10am – 3am
Sunday – Thursday: 10am – 2am

Location: 129 MacDougal Street

https://lalanternacaffe.com

That night was just the first experience I had in this “New Yorker” style.

I loved it so much that I’ve repeated it countless times, but in different restaurants. It’s a great way to also optimize your stay in New York and explore more places at once.

I do want to emphasize that both Olive Tree Cafe and La Lanterna di Vittorio serve really tasty food. I do eat full meals at both places too. Plus, I’ve always had a great time.

But, if you enjoyed this duo-restaurant adventurous night out, get ready! Have fun, meet different people after all, that’s what NYC is all about!

In addition, if you visit these restaurants, do tag us on your Instagram and let us know what you thought about your dish!

Lastly, to explore other restaurants in the West Village, you might want to check out: Shuraku, for a high-end Japanese option; and Hudson Clearwater, for a mysterious and secluded dining experience.

Text by our Contributor: Rafaela Azevedo
Photo Credits: Courtesy of Jimmy Kuang for Olive Tree Café, and courtesy of venues
*Last Update on Feb/2020.*

Lilia Ristorante: Coveted Italian Restaurant in Williamsburg

November 10, 2017

Dining 1 Comment

As soon as Lilia Ristorante & Caffé opened, it was named as one of the best and most coveted Italian restaurants in Williamsburg. We’ve been there countless times, and can’t wait for our next visit!

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Italian cuisine is probably one of our top 3 picks and we love everything from the food to the culture behind it. We were thrilled when we heard about a new spot opening in Williamsburg, called Lilia Ristorante & Caffé.

But be prepared: You might experience a huge waiting time for “walk-ins”, so we recommend to have a reservation. And even so, it might be booked for over the full next month. Crazy!

To start, Missy Robbins, Head Chef & Owner, discovered her passion for Italian cuisine while working for 5 years as the Executive Chef at the renowned restaurant Spiaggia, in Chicago. After returning to NYC in 2008, she took the role of Executive Chef at the Michelin-starred restaurant A Voce.

So, after having gathered a remarkable experience at these fine dining restaurants, Missy decided to fly solo and open her own spot: Lilia Ristorante.

Lilia is located in the heart of Williamsburg and brought to the neighborhood the possibility of dining at an exquisite place with fantastic food. The Italian menu offers everything from hand-crafted pastas and wood-fired seafood, to great classic Italian cocktails and to-die-for desserts.

Moreover, the place is gorgeous. The high-ceiling and huge, tall windows with the rustic but, nonetheless, chic décor set the mood. Certainly a high-end Brooklyn style spot for people that enjoy a great high-end casual dining spot, but don’t feel like going into the city. Lilia was certainly a fantastic addition to the neighborhood.

We’ve been there countless times, so here are some of our favorites dishes.

For cocktails snacks, try:

Prosciutto, Balsamic Mustard, Parmigiano Butter
House-made Mozzarella, Toasted Garlic Bread, Lemon, Bottarga

Antipasti, ask for:

Cauliflower, Spicy Soppressata, Sicilian Pesto, Majoram
Roasted Trumpet Mushrooms, Arugula, Balsamic, Sicilian Almonds
Whole Artichoke, Garlic, Mint, Parmigiano, Breadcrumbs
Castlefranco, Bacon, Tropea Onion, Parmigiano

If you enjoy fish, you can have:

Grilled Scallops, Walnuts, Yoghurt, Marjoram
Mussels, Herb Butter, Sea Salt
Crispy Shrimp, Gremolata, Parsley Aioli
Black Bass, Salsa Verde, Coal Roasted Yukon Gold Potatoes

For the pasta-lovers:

Spaghetti, Lemon, Pine Nuts, Parmigiano
Ricotta Gnocchi, Broccoli Pesto, Basil, Pistachios
Fettuccine, Spicy Lamb Sausage, Tomato Passato, Fennel Seed
Squash Filled Ravioli, Hazelnuts, Parmigiano, Sage

And, for the meat eaters:

Grilled Lamb Leg Steak, Roman Spices, Fennel, Celery

Now, we do recommend you leaving space to try their desserts. It’s actually hard to pick the best ones.

If you want to host a small event, they offer a semi-private area in the restaurant for up to 20 people. So, be sure to contact us for further information about the space for private events or corporate gatherings.

In addition, you might also just want to pass by the Caffé. They have delicious and super fresh pastries and coffees. A great place for a pitstop while you’re in the neighborhood!

Enjoy this super cool Italian restaurant in Williamsburg.

Lastly, while in the hood, go shopping at these great vintage shops, or check out this coolest music store.

Hours (Restaurant):
Monday – Friday: 5:30pm – 11pm
Saturday & Sunday: 5pm – 11pm

Hours (Caffé): Opens daily at 7am

Location: 567 Union Avenue

www.lilianewyork.com

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Evan Sung Photography for Lilia Ristorante
*Last Update on Feb/2020.*

Epistrophy: A Restaurant Where The Owner Plays Jazz For You

September 18, 2017

SoHo is a neighborhood with some of the most amazing businesses and stories! We found Epistrophy, a charming restaurant, where the owner plays Jazz music to his clients! How awesome is that!?

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Luca and Georgia came to NY many years ago for a quick 3 months experience. They worked in a few bars and coffee shops before moving back to Sardinia. On the side, Luca also played Jazz music for some extra cash – he plays the trumpet!

After a while, they couldn’t get New York City out of their heads, decided to come back and in 2005 opened Epistrophy – a restaurant with Sardinian-inspired recipes.

A huge portion of the restaurant was actually built by Luca and his former boss and friend, Leo. Luca explained that:

“Every year we revamp the place without losing its soul. This way, our customers won’t be upset and we maintain our essence.”

The dishes we tried were:

Quinoa Salad with kale, beet, squash, chickpea, avocado and radish
Avocado Toast
Vegan pasta with vegetables
For dessert, a banana muffin with fruits

We can’t forget about the beautiful rustic décor! Just like we enjoy it, with beautiful metal and wooden tables, a gorgeous full bar, and a cute waiting area that reminds us of a home.

For the lovers of the traditional 20’s-30’s Jazz, every Sunday night they offer live music!

And the coolest things is: every 1st Sunday, Luca himself plays too! I mean: How cool is it to have the owner himself play music to his guests!? We love it! By the way, he has a few records already if you want to check these out!

We’re sure you’ll love this place and we can’t wait to go back!

If you’re going to explore Brooklyn, be sure to visit their sister restaurant in Greenpoint called Le Fanfare! And take a look at the YouTube video we’ve done there as well!

Do you live in New York, or will you be in town to celebrate an important date? Well, if you’re looking for a great place to host your event, contact our experts to understand how our Concierge Services works!

Are you a company looking for location for your upcoming event or to host clients? Our team behind our Corporate Services can help you out!

Hours:
Happy Hour Weekdays: 4pm – 7pm
Monday – Sunday: 9am – 12am

Location: 200 Mott Street

http://epistrophynyc.com

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Brussels Vegan
*Last Update on Feb/2020.*

The 7 Best Food Spots By Alexa Mehraban From EatingNYC

November 14, 2016